Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A Fabulous SW Portland Garden, Day 2

After seeing all the marvelous plants in the front garden I was very curious as to what I would discover around back…more of the same? An entirely different experience? Yes, and yes! It took me a few minutes to realize just how large the space was…it goes on forever. While a garden of this size is a dream, I can also imagine it would be a bit overwhelming too. How to break it into smaller intimate spaces? How to fill it with plants? (okay that part sounds fun…) I am not one for water features; they often end up looking like something that was incorporated simply so the gardener could say they have a water feature…but this! This is something entirely different. Wow. The land beyond the fountain and retaining wall… Looking back at the house. Even the tomatoes have a nice place to grow… What the? Oh ya! This is the area on the backside of the fountain. I love a surprise, especially when it includes Agaves! While the linear patterns of this planting are what catch your eye now just imagine once the Agaves grow up! Along the back of the house is another collection of plant treasures! What a wonderful garden, it was difficult to tear myself away! To me it seems the perfect mix of a plant lover who wants to try new things, and develop a wonderful plant collection, and an experienced and knowledgeable designer to give the space structure and guide the plant choices (and I pray as they are reading this they aren't cringing at my attempt to sum it up!).

There is a good chance this garden may be open next summer as part of the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon’s open garden program for members. Of course you will want to go!

You bet your booties I would visit this as an open garden! In a heartbeat. I want to know what that palm is, and the potted large-leafed thing, and the gray-leafed plant in the planter near it. I want to see that fountain up close, and the Tetrapanax forest, and the agaves... If you have any influence with this homeowner, please be strongly, even wildly encouraging.

You've done a great job getting across the distinctiveness of this garden, but I would still absolutely love to see it in person. I'm not sure I'd go as far as saying that I am starting to fall in love with gravel gardens and succulents, but I am succumbing to a healthy curiosity about them. They are so different from the cottagey, overblown style that has been my first love for so many years. I just really like the restrained architectural quality they have. Those agaves interplanted with those long pieces of rock is so fascinating!